Tripogon wardii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; lacerate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 8–15 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; unilateral; 6–11 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 7–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 3.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex with a unilateral tooth; acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–5.5 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; persisting on inflorescence. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 5 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined; without lateral veins; acute; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 1 mm long. Fertile lemma oblong; 5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; with central lobe bidentate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 2–3 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 2–3 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Bor 1993.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.